HISTORY OF THE BYZANTINE CARMELITE NUNS

While watching the news on T.V., it showed the ground breaking of a new Chapel. Included was a view of the Icons in the old Chapel. These Icons were just too beautiful to ignore. It aroused my curiosity as to where this Chapel was located. This was in the Spring of 1993.

I shared this experience with my friends, one of them sent the question to "Write to Know" column in the Pocono Record, Pa. The information was given to me, the Chapel is located in Sugarloaf, Pa. I wrote to the Nun in charge and asked if I could visit the Chapel. Her response was one of welcome. My husband and I visited the Monastery in October, a beautiful fall day. Mother Marija greeted us warmly, showed us the beautiful Icons painted by an elderly man who is not feeling too well, but determined to complete all of them for the new Chapel.

On return, I shared this experience with my friends, they were curious about the place and asked many questions of which I did not know. At another visit, I informed Mother Marija about the interest my friends had about her Monastery. I asked her if she would like me to write up a history of the Byzantine Carmelite Nuns. She was delighted. The next visit, I took a tape recorder and a list of 16 questions which would give one insight as to their order.

It took about nine months to transfer the information from the tape to the computer and to organize it into a chronological format. What was supposed to be a one page flier resulted in a ten-page booklet. There was much cut and paste, the inclusion of pictures and other. Communication continued for months until the booklet was finalized in the year 1994. It should be mentioned that the new chapel has been completed and dedicated. It is beautiful to see, the rounded ceiling and, the walls are covered with Religious Icons, the windows are covered with stained glass. It is a sight to see. The following is the result of the many months of labor. It is hoped that you enjoy the history as much as the writer did in doing the research and putting it together. The following is the history of the BYZANTINE CARMELITE NUNS.

The Byzantine Carmelite Nuns are dedicated to their faith in God. They are contemplative nuns, live in a world of harmony and frugality, within the confines of their Monastery and environs. They sustain themselves through a life of hard physical work, produce their own edibles and accept assistance from the people in the community for specific services. They adhere to a conservative and traditional life, retain the habit style of dress and wear sandals with socks as a sign of poverty.

...of the Byzantine Carmelites focuses on salvation of their souls in union with God through prayer, which represents their posture, life and means of sustenance as contemplative nuns.

A second goal is to draw people of diversified ethnic backgrounds together and pray that they will live in harmony with each other.

Lastly, to demonstrate to their apostalates that in a materialistic world, money and power are subservient to prayer and charitable works.

...was derived from Mt. Carmel around the 12th. century. Mt. Carmel is a short mountain ridge of N.W. Israel, with a peak in the ridge that is 1791 ft. Above sea level.

From early times Mt. Carmel was a holy place, containing an altar of Yahweh long before the contest for allegiance of the children of Israel was fought there (Kings 18) between the Hebrew prophet Elijah and the prophets of the divinity Baal. Carmelites or Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel Monastic order was probably founded in the 12th. century. The earliest proof of a Carmelite order is their rule written between 1206 and 1214 by St. Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and approved by Pope Honoris III in 1226. The Carmelite men in Europe wrote a beautiful treatise called "The Institution of the First Monks" which was very oriental and ancient in its composition and content. It took fire in Europe, because it was very different from the other three Orders. It was very scriptural, hermetical and charismatic, on this strength and the scapular medal, they were granted Papal approbation. (F&W New Enc., Vol. 5, p.165)

...of the Byzantine Carmelite Nuns. Saint Teresa (Theresa) of Avila (1515 to 1582), Spanish mystic, founder of the order of Discalced, or Barefoot Carmelites. She was educated in an Augustinian convent. She entered the local Carmelite Convent of the Incarnation about 1535.

In 1555, after many years of serious ill health and rigorous practices she experienced the first of many trances. She saw visions of Jesus. She was visited by angels and demons and saw a glimpse of Hell.

Teresa was displeased with the Carmelites lack of discipline. Consequently, she determined to devote herself to the reformation of the order, in spite of bitter opposition of her immediate superiors. Through Papal intervention, Teresa succeeded in founding, at Avila, the Convent of St. Joseph. It was the first community of reformed or Discalced Carmelite nuns. She enforced strict observance of the original severe Carmelite rules at the convent which won the approbation of the head of the order, and in 1567 she was authorized to establish similar religious houses for men.

Teresa organized the new branch of the old order, with the aid of St. John of the Cross, the Spanish mystic and doctor of the Church. Although she was harassed at every step by powerful and hostile churchmen, she helped to establish sixteen foundations for women and fourteen for men. Before she died, the Discalced Carmelites received Papal recognition as an independent monastic body.

Teresa was canonized in 1622; she was proclaimed a doctor of the Church, the first woman to be so named in l970. Her feast day is Oct. 15. Teresa was one of the world's most outstanding women. She was a gifted organizer endowed with common sense, tact, intelligence, courage , and humor, as well as a mystic of extraordinary spiritual depth. Her writings were all published posthumously, which are valued contributions.

St. Teresa purified the religious life of Spain, and strengthened the forces that reformed the Roman Catholic Church from within, at a time when Protestantism gained ground in Europe. (F&W New Enc., Vol. 23, p119)

...made its way to France, to Dutch Netherlands which was at that time a colony of Spain and finally to America in 1790. Due to the turmoil, poor conditions, and inadequate care from the aristocracy in the the Balkan countries, many migrated to America. During the period of 1880-1910 the Polish, Slovaks, Croations, and Yugoslavs, settled in the area of Wilkes Barre and Pittsburgh where mines were located. Others went to Minnesota. Their tradition was Greek catholic, they were not Roman catholics nor Orthodox. Many did not know what nation they belonged to, they only knew their villages. When they came to America, no priest joined them, consequently, they went to the local churches. Based on their request, the Archbishop sent several priests who were married. When these priests presented their credentials to the Archbishops in Philadelphia and Minnesota, who were Irish, they were not aware of married clergy. These priests were immediately put under interdict, forbidden to exercise all their priestly faculties, and minister spiritual services to their people. This misunderstanding was resolved through contact with the proper authorities.

...in 1954 to start a Byzantine Carmel for nuns, so that young ladies aspiring to become nuns would remain within their traditional roots. Also on viewing a brochure from the Russian Center that focused on praying for a United Church, she was inspired to do likewise, unaware of the schism in the church.

...through hard physical labor within the confines of their Monastery. Initially, they started by growing fruits and vegetables which yielded 2000 pounds from which they made various fruit preserves and other.

In 1978 the bakery started through chance, i.e., a woman who baked at the Franciscan Monastery became ill. Mother offered to help so that the Friar's August Pilgrimage would be successful. Thus the idea of making bread by the nuns became a reality after their first bake sale. For ten years they were assisted by two men who helped them with the baking ingredients and delivery of baked goods to the Farmer's Market. Other men also helped in the deliveries.

Women helped to sell the baked goods. Bread making was followed by pies and jellies which won ribbons for them. Other products added to their making were candles and cheesecakes.

In 1988, their mail order began through the generous help of a business man who had a four page colored catalog printed, showing their products. He had 10,000 copies printed. During special events of the year, e.g., Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter the nuns send out about 1000 copies.

In May the nuns return to their garden, and plant a variety of vegetables. In summer the Farmer's Market demand for their bread keeps them busy filling orders.

Their lives revolve within the confines of the Monastery. Their contact with people is done behind a lattice type see-through enclosure. In case of emergency, two nuns are assigned to drive the Van. Wholesale food shopping is done by phone and delivered. Shopping for other limited items is done by some of the laity.

...a young lady is required to spend one year as a postulant, then receive her habit and a new religious name, selected in collaboration with the Prioress and the postulant. After two more years as a novitiate she takes her first vows, followed by three additional years when she takes her final vows, a total of six years.

During this six year period, the young lady will be evaluated as to her ability to enrich herself through readings which include church history, varied cultures, scripture and other.

Secondly, a concern for her emotional maturity and ability to lead the life of a nun in enclosure. In reality, this vocation is the ability of a Byzantine nun to live in solitude and harmony with the nuns in the Monastery. The age requirement for the American young lady is a least 20 to 21 years or older. Whereas, girls from abroad, may be as young as 18, because they have a strong family life and are more frugal.

Presently, there are 11 nuns in the Monastery, they could increase this number to 21 in their particular Order. However, Mother Marija prefers to limit the number to 13 nuns which is a small family and allows for greater closeness. In 1980, Bishop Dudick appointed Sr. Marija as Mother and Prioress of the Byzantine Carmelite Monastery. In 1993, she was elected Prioress for a period of three years.

...traced back to St. Teresa who had a great love for St. Joseph. When she was a young nun, she had many physical ailments. Also at the time of the inquisition it was difficult to find a confessor who would understand her because the Lord was appearing to her which she did not understand. She prayed to St. Joseph to help her.

It was St. Teresa who made St. Joseph well known to the Western Church. She named almost all her Monasteries, except for one or two, after St. Joseph. All Carmelites love St. Joseph.

When the Carmelite nuns left the Elysburg Monastery, they asked the Prioress for the statue of St. Joseph to take to their new Monastery. As Joseph was the protector of Mary, they believed St. Joseph would also be their protector. He is in their daily prayers. They believe he will never let them down, in times of need. For example, they needed to expand their acreage, so they inserted St. Joseph medal in the adjacent grounds, and prayed to him. Through the good faith of the property owners and prayers to St. Joseph, the nuns acquired additional property.

...plan to establish a foundation in Slovakia. To achieve this they would need at least 18 nuns. Hopefully, in the next seven years they will have 18 nuns, which was originally started by three nuns on a former Mink farm of four 1/2 acres and now totals 22 acres. The Byzantine Carmelite Nuns, who live in a Monastery, practice a conservative and traditional spiritual life as compared to the secular nuns who practice a more modern spiritual life, dress as lay people, work in different professional occupations and live in private houses in the community.